Robin Thicke: 'Justin Timberlake helped make my song a hit'

Robin Thicke has admitted that Justin Timberlake helped pave the way for his own song to become a hit.

The singer - whose sound has been heavily compared to Timberlake's latest album The 20/20 Experience - conceded that the imitation actually worked in his favor.

"He actually helped me a lot because his sound went more R&B and soulful and that's what I've been doing my whole career, so it really opened up a door," Thicke told US radio station Hot 97.

"Him and I grew up with the same influences - Michael Jackson, Prince, Marvin Gaye," he added. "We were both white kids who grew up in the hip-hop generation, so I think it's natural we're going to have some similarities."